Police officer

Police Po*lice", n. [F., fr. L. politia the condition of a state, government, administration, Gr. ?, fr. ? to be a citizen, to govern or administer a state, fr. ? citizen, fr. ? city; akin to Skr. pur, puri. Cf. {Policy} polity, {Polity}.] 1. A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough. [1913 Webster]

2. That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state. [1913 Webster]

3. The organized body of civil officers in a city, town, or district, whose particular duties are the preservation of good order, the prevention and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the laws. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mil.) Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison. [1913 Webster]

5. The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state ? a camp as to cleanliness. [1913 Webster]

{Police commissioner}, a civil officer, usually one of a board, commissioned to regulate and control the appointment, duties, and discipline of the police.

{Police constable}, or {Police officer}, a policeman.

{Police court}, a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police.

{Police inspector}, an officer of police ranking next below a superintendent.

{Police jury}, a body of officers who collectively exercise jurisdiction in certain cases of police, as levying taxes, etc.; -- so called in Louisiana. --Bouvier.

{Police justice}, or {Police magistrate}, a judge of a police court.

{Police offenses} (Law), minor offenses against the order of the community, of which a police court may have final jurisdiction.

{Police station}, the headquarters of the police, or of a section of them; the place where the police assemble for orders, and to which they take arrested persons. [1913 Webster]